** For most programs, applications are reviewed on a rolling admissions basis (starting August 1st for Spring programs and starting January 15th for Summer and Fall programs). NOTE: Applications for programs offering exchange positions will be reviewed AFTER the application deadline.

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 367,569 inhabitants (1,500,000 in the metropolitan area). The city lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the richest and wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

The city boasts a wide range of collections of art, especially those held in the Pitti Palace and the Uffizi. Florence is arguably the last preserved Renaissance city in the world and is regarded by many as the art capital of Italy. It has been the birthplace or chosen home of many notable historical figures, such as Leonardo Da Vinci and many more.

The Music and Performing Arts Program, "Renaissance in the XXI Century," is an intensive 6-week, 6-credit summer Study Abroad course in Florence, Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

The goal of the program is to convey the spirit and the "energy" of the Renaissance. You will enhance your artistic skills through a pre-professional experience both in class and by performing in Italian historical venues.

Our 6-credit study abroad program aims at enabling young artists to hone their artistic skills and creative energy by living and performing both in Florence (universally acknowledged as the cradle of modernity) and other Italian venues.

All courses will be taught in English by local and visiting faculty/artists, with other U.S. students as classmates.

Students will take the performance studies course (for violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, piano, and voice - although all instruments will be considered) and Music History of the Renaissance, for a total of 6 credits. An elective is available in the Italian Language for 3 additional credits.

The program is six weeks long, and will take place from mid-May to late June. Attendance is required for the entire six-week period. Classes are held from Monday-Thursday each week.

For information about arrival and departure, see the Program Specific Handbook at the bottom of this page.

Local excursions will be provided. A staff member, liaison to the students, coordinates all student activities. You will also receive a museum card that will provide you with free entrance to many museums and landmarks in Florence.

In Florence, you will be living in double occupancy rooms in shared student apartments, located throughout the city. In addition to the rent charge, electricity, water and wifi internet service are included in the program fee. Housing will be arranged for you and ready upon your arrival.

You will be responsible for making your own travel arrangements to Italy and back. The program officially begins in and ends in Florence. All transportation to required program activities and field trips within Italy is included.

The CU-Boulder program fee covers instruction, accommodation, administrative fees, program-related transportation, admission to sites visited, and health insurance. In addition, you will need funds to cover round-trip airfare, meals, books and supplies for the program and personal expenses.

If you apply by January 1st, you will receive $240 off the program fee!

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) Grants: (up to $2400/project) for undergraduate research or creative work projects including projects while studying abroad. Application, detailed descriptions, project archive (to get project ideas) are available on the UROP website. Application deadline is EARLY - usually in late February/early March. See here for more information.

Dante Alighieri Society Academic Scholarship and Music Scholarship: These scholarships are awarded to front range area students. Applications are accepted in early spring for the following year's terms. Click here for more information.

The Music History course offered was both thorough and enjoyable, the professor was wonderful and did a great job of relating music and its various styles of the art that we studied. Classes consisted of lectures and also field trips to museums, churches, and other landmarks around the city, so I didn't feel like we were constantly stuck in a classroom while being in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Classes, rehearsals, and the apartment were located in the center of town, Florence is an extremely busy city so sometimes I felt claustrophobic and just wanted some quiet, but that's just what you get with living in a city like Firenze. Interactions with locals took some time to get used to, many speak pretty good English however knowing very little Italian myself, I got very good at using charades to communicate. The people are very friendly and do their very best to be helpful.